Overview
The individual application route within the ABDN:PRS Scheme provides formal support and guidance for all applicants working towards professional recognition for their teaching and / or learning support duties. Recognising and celebrating the increasing range of individuals who both teach and support the learning of our students, Advance HE recognition is open to anyone whose work can be used as evidence against the review criteria as laid out in the PSF 2023. This can include Professional Services staff, postgraduate tutors and demonstrators as well as ‘front-line’ academic staff.
The University of Aberdeen offers support for, and is accredited to review, applications at Associate Fellowship (Descriptor 1), Fellowship (Descriptor 2) and Senior Fellowship (Descriptor 3). In order to help you decide which category of recognition is most appropriate for you, please refer to the Advance HE Fellowship Category Tool. This is a useful way of ascertaining which initial introductory session (Stage 1 below) to attend. It does not commit you to anything at this stage and you can still change your mind.
The individual application route of the ABDN:PRS Scheme consists of three stages:
- Stage 1: Pre-submission
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Attend a one-hour, MANDATORY introductory session (bookable on the course booking system). This will help you understand the nature of the process of completing an individual application at the category that you have selected as well as the approach required. If you decide to proceed with an application, you can then apply to be entered into the ABDN:PRS Scheme formally and allocated a mentor. This will be a staff member from the University who holds at least Fellowship of Advance HE themselves and who has been trained to undertake this role specifically.
- Stage 2: Submission Preparation
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For you to make a claim for Advance HE Fellowship, you need to align your teaching and/or supporting learning practice with the requirements for the category of Fellowship which you will have agreed as appropriate with your mentor during Stage 1. The category of Fellowship in your application is based on your higher education teaching practice and/or support of learning within the last 3 years for D1 and D2, and for D3 usually within the last 3-5 years. In addition, you must provide a 300-word context statement to briefly outline the context for your work in teaching and/or supporting learning.
- Stage 3: Submission
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You will submit your application to MyAberdeen, the University’s VLE, where it will be shared with the Scheme Leader and the reviewers. Please note that Turnitin text-match software will be used to the check originality of your submission. Prior experience of providing this type of support indicates having a mentor enhances a mentee’s application for Fellowship and, therefore, helps maximise your chance of a successful application outcome.
All submissions require supporting statements. A template is provided for this purpose along with guidance for the supporting statement for the referee. You will require one supporting statement for D1 and two supporting statements at D2 and D3. The supporting statement(s) is/are provided to verify that your application is an accurate reflection of your practice. You identify the referee(s) and submit the supporting statement to MyAberdeen on behalf of your referee(s).
The review of your application is considered at the ABDN:PRS Board. Possible outcomes are:
- Award
- Refer
- Additional evidence required
If your claim is referred, a plan of mentoring support and a timeframe based on your feedback is discussed and agreed between you and your mentor.